I was going to murder the Jedi High Council and it looked like about a solid third of the people present were willing to join me. Best use copious amounts of explosives, flamers, slugthrowers and as many compatriots as possible to do it. Probably start with the chucklefuck right in front of me. I thumb my slugthrower’s hilt as I push down my murderous and mutinous thoughts. A day had passed since the disaster now known as the Carida Incident and the debriefing had devolved instantly.

  “You cannot be serious!” Tarkin barks into the auditorium, Kenobi standing at its center, representing the High Council of the militant religious order, the man had just finished his retelling of the reports, despite various interruptions. The reports had been handed out and the entire retelling had taken quite a while, mostly in thanks to outraged shouts of indignation from the officers present whenever shit hit the fan, endangering everyone present in the process.

  “It was believed the security risk would not be severe enough and the crew sent to be sufficient, which it was.” Kenobi replies.

  “Barely!” Rear Admiral Bruce barks, “If it wasn’t for the quick actions of Admirals Dericote and Tarkin we’d be dead for certain!”

  “Based off of the information we have, it is believed that the astromech R2-D2 caused an early detonation whi-”

  “We’re not discrediting the efforts of your so called D-Squad.” Admiral Jerjerrod placates, “However this should have been a mission conducted by the proper agencies, be it Navy Intelligence or any other capable Intelligence groups and elite taskforces at our disposal for precisely such a danger. The Jedi sent a poorly outfitted group, which according to the testimonies of its members only managed this success by pure luck.”

  “I would like to add,” I say, before Kenobi can interrupt, “that I find it suspicious that you could spare so many Jedi for this conference, yet didn’t have any on hand who could have investigated this. No disrespect to Brigadier General Gascon, but he is an analyst first and foremost, not a commando.”

  “This entire situation calls into question your capabilities in leading this war.” General Romodi, one of Tarkin’s men, adds.

  And wasn’t that the crux of the issue. The Jedi had been rather quiet throughout the conference, only adding small pieces of advice, but largely leaving the officers present to make any decisions of importance. It was also the Sector Generals and Marshal Administrators doing much of the actual logistical work. It was our men fighting and dying in the mud and void while the Clones and Jedi worked as the spearheads of any assault, often enjoying rapid victories and taking all the credit from grueling sieges they deemed not important enough mere weeks before swooping in to resolve them.

  It was the fact that in a void engagement it still wasn’t entirely decided if an Admiral or Starfighter Corps General of any stripe outranked a Jedi General, the entire command structure in the Navy was based off of who could leverage something over the other and who was more willing to back down and bow to the other’s experiences. I was lucky in that regard. Kenobi hadn’t taken direct command when Targonn had invaded forever ago and General Tapal deferred to my experience in the command. Though on the opposite side of the chit, Krell had tried to kill me after manipulating me into essentially subordinating myself to him. A real mixed bag those Jedi.

  The lack of an actual command structure was mayhem and this most recent Jedi blunder, at this scale, with so many officers present to witness it at once, was the blood in the water that was needed. It was the spark which could light aflame the entire mishmash the Supreme Chancellor had thrown at the armed forces. It was the opportunity needed to try and fix it and every officer within the GAR and Republic Navy knew it. Romodi had simply opened the floodgates on the largest issue in the armed forces of the Republic, like it wasn’t some unspoken thing kept away from polite society and more importantly the public’s notice, instead being grumbled about in drunken inner circles.

  I had to pounce on this. This was a critical opportunity to finally rip out too many inefficiencies we were all forced to deal with.

  “You’re exactly right.” I say, “This overreach shows the Jedi can’t be trusted to keep to protocols. Clearly they need more oversight when it comes to military decisions and the use of military assets. I believe it was you, General Kenobi, who wished to divert an entire battleship section to a random bit of space in an attempt to speed up the return of a group of Jedi who were previously accosted by Separatist warships and rescued by Republic privateers.”

  “That is not what hap-”

  “I’ve read the reports which Admiral Dericote references,” Vice Admiral Wieler interrupts, “I do believe it was almost entirely above board, excluding the incident with the traitorous lieutenant, but such is the risk of operating with former criminals, a risk well worth the information the broker and privateer in question has provided in the past to the Tion Theater. And my colleague from Fondor does have a point. Admiral Yularen, how often have units of the Open Circle been diverted for purely Jedi missions with no or limited effect on the war-effort?”

  Yularen stands, exhaustion plain in his face: “I believe at least a dozen times.”

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  “This clearly shows the inability of the Jedi to be the primary leaders on the battlefield and on the strategic level.” Tarkin says smugly.

  “A certain level of exclusion from the conflict could do them good.” An officer I didn’t know adds.

  “Now, now,” I caution, “The Jedi are still the best option available for combating enemy force wielders. I am not suggesting their removal from the chain of command, but to finally incorporate them fully into it.”

  “Really now, they should be excluded. You heard Admiral Yularen, at least a dozen incidents in the Open Circle alone! That alone should demand an investigation on the competencies of Jedi leadership.” Tarkin counters.

  So this would be where the lines were drawn. I glance over to Jerjerrod and raise an eyebrow. He glances over before nodding. We would make a stand on this.

  The older Admiral stands himself then as he speaks: “I must say, Admiral Dericote seems to have the right of it. We still need the Jedi to combat monsters like Grievous and other Force wielders such as Dooku and his self proclaimed Dark Acolytes. However the Jedi must be fully incorporated into the command structure. The last thing we need is some Jedi Knight diverting a fleet on some whim.”

  “A full investigation is the bare minimum!” General Rohn barks, another Tarkin man.

  “Of the incidents? Certainly. However we still need the Jedi.” Admiral Meade says. The Yinchori rubbing his chin as he speaks.

  “Now, as a Jedi myself-” Kenobi tries, before being interrupted. No one, but the other handful of Jedi present cared right now.

  “Do we really? I believe Ventress was held off on Kamino by a platoon of Clones.”

  “After she killed or maimed over a battalion’s worth.” Vice Admiral Wessex replies, “In addition the Clones were assisted by Skywalker.”

  The fact that Wessex of all people had omitted General Skywalker's rank spoke volumes. The damn had truly broken now if Kenobi's second in command in regards to Navy matters was openly snubbing a Jedi, especially one of Kenobi's direct subordinates and the High General's protege.

  “And that Zabrak went through an entire platoon of ARF Clone Troopers in mere minutes.” General McClellan adds.

  “Then artillery shall be our solution.” Rohn answers, “Not even a lightsaber can deflect the explosive power of heavy ordnance!”

  “You and your artillery,” Romodi scoffs, “it isn’t the answer to every problem.”

  “At some point, nothing can survive the destructive power of a bombardment.” Rohn counters, “It won’t matter what the subject of the artilleryman’s ire is. Be it Jedi, Sith or some other Force wielder, they will succumb to the might and skill of artillerists.”

  “History has shown the Jedi and Sith both have an annoying ability to survive even the harshest of bombardments.” I council, “History also shows, that when rival Force wielders meet, they usually end up killing one another. We’ll need the Jedi to ensure this. As long as Dooku and his ilk serve the Separatists, we will need the Jedi. Let us ensure we can have them, by incorporating them into the overall command structure!”

  “Then maybe the Jedi should be placed in special hunter killer units?” A Major General ponders aloud.

  “Sep officers have been known to hide behind swathes of droids and militiamen. I would not trust half a dozen Jedi to make it through all of that, especially if they have to duel a monster like Grievous after.” A different General I did not know objects.

  "Isn't that why we've been paying those Kaminoans for quality Clones? To support the Jedi?" An Admiral I also didn't know questions.

  Just then, I notice Coburn rise. He was the only Fleet Admiral present having returned from the troop inspection at Castell a few hours ago, just in time to witness the aftermath of the shitshow. The elder Fleet Admiral’s movements grab the attention of almost everyone present as he clears his throat.

  “My fellow officers. I have heard you bicker pointlessly for the last hour or so, never mind what occurred two days ago, and I believe a decision should be made. We cannot directly remake the chain of command without Senate approval and cannot even temporarily do so without the approval of the Senate Committee on the Republic’s Armed Forces. So I propose the following. All who wish it may sign a document outlying our grievances, our wish for an investigation on the Carida incident which occurred yesterday and our wish that the Jedi are incorporated into the preexisting command structure at levels behooving their previous skills.”

  Looks like Coburn has choose our side for now. I jerk my head at Jerjerrod. It would be better if it looks like the old guard are united in this.

  Jerjerrod jumps up and barks out his own affirmations: “Seconded! We should manage a quick draft within an hour.”

  Coburn continues with an approving nod at Jerjerrod: “Then I would ask everyone present to wait until we’ve finished here. This measure, if implemented will help in ending the war. Long live the Republic!”

  I release a sigh of relief alongside a chuckle as a solid number of officers clap. A more efficient war will be a quicker war. I was certain, though my knowledge of old Earth tickles at the back of my thoughts. Would it actually be over faster? Or would it simply escalate?

  In the end, the signatures of a thousand and fifteen flag officers littered the bottom of the document. Coburn’s was on the very top, followed by Jerjerrod’s, Tarkin’s, McClellan’s and Mine. After that it was the turn of the myriad of Admirals, Generals, Colonels, Commodores and even a handful of Jedi who had been left out of the loop.

  It was with this mixture of schadenfreude filled vindication and relief that the conference ended. New ships had to be diverted to bring everyone to their commands, as even the lightly damaged ships needed a few hours in drydock.

  In the end I get shipped to the front at Randon alongside some two hundred additional warships from the western Core. It was a decent force, lacking mostly in corvettes and light cruisers, but I suppose those could be mustering closer to the front. I probably won’t be present for the fighting, getting rushed through as the Seps realize the growing numbers of Republic forces converging at the critical system.

  We were maybe three jumps out from system when I get called to the bridge by a nervous Captain. As I waltz over to the Captain’s post on the bridge, R4 as always rolling beside me, the man clears his throat.

  “Sir, we have a transmission for you from Sector General Therbon.”

  My brows scrunch in a mix of concern and anger. Whatever this was, it wouldn’t be good: “Don’t let me stop you, put him on.”

  “I will say, this was prerecorded.” The comms officer says before playing the transmission.

  “To Admiral Thraken Owen Dericote of Fondor. Lantillies has fallen. The Seps showed up with a force of three hundred additional ships and broke us before the reserves from the Negs could arrive. I am currently indisposed and likely to face a court martial for my failure. The Cerulean Spear has been disgraced. This will be my final order to you before my probable house arrest. Redeem the Cerulean Spear. Whatever your current plan is, make it ten times worse on the Seps and burn the enemy’s industrial heart. The enemy will make it to Anaxes, I can already see it. No matter what Seerdon manages, even if he can blunt the advance of the enemy, they will make it through. I hope for all our sakes that the enemy will not pass the fortress of the inner Core. Stars keep you and I apologize for any wrong I may have committed to you. Sector General Therbon, temporary commanding officer of Cerulean Spear Command, out.”

  The bridge goes silent. The Acclamator which was supposed to assist in resupplying my forces, now witness to what I do next.

  I take a deep breath as I glance over at the Captian beside me: “We make for Dac. Double time.”

  “But, sir, we were to wait on additional forces to escort the convoy.”

  My eyes focus on the man, the poor kid’s face leaking just enough fear for me to exploit: “Captain. We’ve just lost Lantillies. I don’t wish to take personal command of this convoy, but Maker I will if you can’t get me to Dac within the week.”

  The Captain slowly manages to nod and I turn over to a comms officer.

  “Sir, what are you doing?” The Captain asks.

  “About to burn half my favors in my command.” I reply.